Napkin and similar article



' Jan. 24, 1939. J. |='v J. SCHARFENBERG 2,145,139

NAPKIN AND SIMILAR ARTICLE Filed Dec. 28, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 24, 1939. .1. P. J. SCHARFENBERG ,1

NAPKIN AND SIMILAR ARTICLE Filed Dc. 28, i937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 24, 1939 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to napkins and similar articles, and to methods of making the same, and more particularly to paper napkins and tablecloths provided with means to prevent the same from slipping off or blowing away or out of place when laid on the lap or knee of the person using the same, or upon a table or elsewhere, and to methods of making such articles. Light weight napkins and the like, especially those of paper, are less convenient to use than heavy linen, largely because they so easily fall or slip off when in use or otherwise, or blow away or out of position in .even a slight current of air.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a napkin or the like having simple, efiective and inexpensive means for holding the same in place when laid on a persons lap or knee, on a table, or elsewhere.

Another object is to provide such means adapted for use on a paper napkin, paper lunch cloth or tablecloth, or the like.

Another object is to provide such a napkin or the like which shall be pleasing in appearance.

Another object is to provide such means which shall function satisfactorily in any position, that is, no matter in what position or how carelessly 1 .the napkin or other article may be laid down.

Another object is to provide such means which may be applied to a napkin, tablecloth, lunch cloth, towel, or similar article, whether of paper or fabric.

Another object is to provide a simple and inexpensive method of manufacturing such articles.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part set forth in the following specification, and in part will be obvious therefrom without being specifically set forth, the same being realized and attained as pointed out in the claims hereof.

With the above and other objects of the invention in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of various devices, elements and parts and in the novel method of manufacture, all as set forth in the claims hereof, and certain embodiments of the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in this specification.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 illustrates a paper napkin constructed according to one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates the blank from which the main portion or body of said napkin is formed;

Figs. 8 and 4 show respectively two parts of the insert hereinafter described, to wit, a paper cover member and a small metal weight to be 5 contained therein;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale, showing a corner of the napkin partly completed;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View, on the same scale as Fig. 5, showing a corner of the finished napkin;

Fig. '7 is a. fragmentary view showing a corner of a modified form of the blank;

Fig. 8 illustrates two of my napkins laid on the top of a table; and

Fig. 9 illustratestwo of the same in use, wholly and partly unfolded respectively.

In carrying my invention into effect in the principal embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I provide a paper napkin, shown in Fig. 1 and designated l5, so balanced with weights as to make it securewhen laid upon the lap or knee of the person using the same, or upon a table or elsewhere.

As shown, four weights are used, one at each corner of the napkin, evenly balanced and so placed and covered as to be invisible.

In the paper napkin illustrated, the securing and concealing of the weights is accomplished as follows. The napkin is constructed from the 30 blank shown in Fig. 2, which has at each corner a pair of tabs or extensions 16. Inserts for the corners are also provided, each consisting of a cover ll, preferably of heavier paper than the napkin, and of substantially the form shown in .Fig. 3, and a weight I8, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 4. The weight is enclosed in the cover H, the corners l9 of the latter being folded down and sealed to hold the weight in place and to conceal the color and contour of the same, 40 and the whole insert is secured to the corner of the napkin and concealed by folding and securing the extensions [6 thereover.

In such construction, the heavy white paper cover I1 effectively conceals the color and shape of the metal weight l8 and prevents it from showing through the thin paper of the napkin. The cover furthermore prevents the weight l8 from breaking through or tearing away the corner of the napkin. 5 The extensions it, however, being integral with the body-of the napkin l5, are of course of the same general appearance and of the same creped or other texture as the adjacent portion of the napkin, and therefore when folded and secured 55 over the inserts conceal the same and present an outer surface of homogeneous, attractive, and substantially unbroken appearance.

Any suitable adhesive is used for securing the weights and the various paper parts in their respective positions. The same is indicated as applied at 28 on the extensions l5, and in the space outside the dotted lines near the edges of the corners IQ of the cover members H. In the case of a white napkin, a white cover member I1 and a white cement are preferable.

The weights are of course preferably secured to the inner or reverse side of the napkin.

In the case of a colored or decorated napkin,

the color of the inserts and adhesive could easily be modified if necessary, so as to harmonize with the color or design of the napkin as a whole.

The sequence of operations in constructing my napkin and securing the parts in place, may of course be varied according to manufacturing convenience; thatis to say, the weights l8 may be first enclosed in the covers I! and the whole then secured to the napkin and covered by the extensions or tabs H5, or, if preferred, the covers may be first assembled with the napkin blank and the weights then placed in position, and the corners of the covers and the extensions I6 then folded down, either separately or together, and secured in place. As illustrated in Fig. 5, both corners of the cover have been first folded down, before folding the tabs IE; by folding each tab IS with its corresponding corner IQ of the cover, however, an interlocked construction would be formed.

The fragmentary view Fig. 7 shows one corner of a modified form of blank, in which a single rectangular extension 25 is provided at each corner, which may be folded twice, i. e., along the line 21 and at the edge of the body of the napkin, in a manner which will be easily understood from an inspection of the drawings, so as to form a triangular enclosure for the insert, instead of using the triangular extensions l6 already described. The modified form would be somewhat more economical of, material in cutting, though somewhat less convenient to assemble and secure. Other forms of extensions could be used if desired.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated two of my napkins laid on a table. It will be easily seen that the folded napkin, shown at the left, will not blow away but will remain where placed, even in the case of a draft from an open window or other cause. Also, the napkin at the right, even though laid so that an edge has fallen over the edge of the table, will not easily drop to the floor. It will further be understood that the even balancing of the weights in the several corners of the napkin, is more satisfactory than any means which holds only one portion of, the napkin, as my preferred construction holds the entire article in place, although of course a single weight,'or a pair ofweights, could be used if desired.

It will also be seen that the provision of the several weighted corners will permit the same to be used in decorative forms when setting a table, as the napkin could, for instance, be folded so thatthe center would stand up in a peak, th corners forming a firm base for the same.

In the case of a napkin or other article hav-' ing a fanciful or decorative shape, whether regular or irregular, the weights may be placed at such number of points as may seem desirable.

In pilingor packing the napkins, the same can be placed in alternate positions, so that the weights will not cause an uneven bulk.

In Fig. 9 I have shown two of the napkins in use for an out-of-doors meal or picnic, the figure at the left using the same open, and the figure at the right having hers half folded. This view well illustrates the convenience of the device for such purposes.

Various advantages of the invention have already been herein referred to, and need not be here recapitulated; other advantages will doubtless occur to those concerned with the use andmanufacture of such articles, without being specifically pointed out.

Although my invention has been shown in the drawings and primarily described as embodied in a paper napkin, it will be understood that it can if desired be embodied in other articles.

For instance, in a luncheon set of crepe paper or the like, for picnic or party use, it might be desired to Weight the corners of the tablecloth as well as the napkins. The cloth would then. remain neatly in place, whether laid with its edges overhanging the sides of the table or entirely upon the top of the same, or, in the case of a picnic, if laid upon the grass, and the same would not be disarranged by a current of air or otherwise. The invention could also be used if desired in doilies, towels, or other articles.

If it were desired to embody the invention in a napkin or other article made of fabric rather than paper, it would probably be desired to stitch the inserts in place rather than to use cement, but the same general structure could be used.

I do not limit myself to the particular details of construction set forth in the foregoing specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or above referred to, as the same refer to and set forth only certain embodiments of the invention, and it is obvious that the same may be modified, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A weighted paper article of the kind referred to, comprising in combination a body portion of relatively thin paper, an integral tab extending from an edge of said body, a weight, and. an inner cover member of relatively heavy material adapted to be folded to occupy an area no larger than said tab; said weight being secured in position within said folded cover member and said tab being folded over said cover member and secured in place by an adhesive, whereby they attachment of said covered weight to said body is distributed to. prevent tearing away, the color and contour of said weight are prevented from appearing, and a substantially homogeneous outer surface is presented on both sides of said napkin or tablecloth.

2. A weighted paper article of the kind referred to, comprising in combination a body portion of relatively thin paper, a pair of integral tabs extending at right angles from a corner of said body, a weight, and a folded inner cover member of relatively heavy material; said weight being secured in position within said folded cover memher and said tabs being folded over to conceal said cover member and secured in place by an adhesive, whereby the attachment of said covered weight to said body is distributed to prevent tearing. away, the color and contour of said weight are prevented from appearing, and a substan-- tially homogeneous outer surface is presented on both sides of said napkin or tablecloth.

3. A weighted paper article of the kind referred to, comprising in combination a body portion of relatively thin paper, a pair of triangular integral tabs extending at right angles from a corner of said body, a weight, and an inner cover member of relatively heavy material folded to occupy an approximately triangular area; said weight being secured in position within said folded cover member and said tabs being folded over to conceal said cover member and secured in place by an adhesive, whereby the attachment of said covered weight to said body is distributed to prevent tearing away, the color and contour of said weight are prevented from appearing, and a. substantially homogeneous outer surface is presented on both sides of said napkin or tablecloth.

4. An article as set forth in claim 3, in which said weighting and concealing means are provided at a plurality of corners thereof.

5. A weighted paper article of the kind referred to, comprising in combination a body portion of relatively thin paper, triangular tabs extending in pairs at right angles from each corner of said body, substantially equal weights for said corners respectively, and a folded inner cover member for each weight, of relatively heavy material; said weights being secured in positions within said folded cover members respectively and said tabs being folded over to conceal said cover members respectively and secured in place by an adhesive, whereby the attachment of said covered Weights to said body is distributed to prevent tearing away, the color and contour of said Weights are prevented from appearing, a substantially homogeneous outer surface is presented on both sides of said napkin or tablecloth, and said article is substantially evenly weighted at its several corners. 7

JOHN P. J. SCHARFENBE-RG. 

